How much might a government shutdown cost? Plenty, history says
The estimated cost of the two federal government shutdowns in fiscal 1996 was more than $1.4 billion ($2.1 billion in today’s dollars).
Public Anger at Government Rises
Overall, 26% of Americans say they are angry at the federal government, while 51% feel frustrated. Just 17% say they are basically content with the government. Anger is most palpable among conservative Republicans.
The last government shutdown and now: a different environment
As the government faces its first shutdown since 1995-1996, the standoff between the Obama administration and Republicans over the federal budget is occurring in a different public opinion environment than when President Bill Clinton faced off with the GOP-controlled House.
Lessons from the last government shutdown
The 1995-1996 government shutdowns didn’t help the GOP’s image, but the party had lost support among the public well before they happened.
Chart of the Week: The bipartisan federal debt limit
Raising the federal debt limit has given both Republicans and Democrats, in Congress and the White House, fits for decades.
Majority of Americans say banks, large corporations benefitted most from U.S. economic policies
Nearly seven-in-ten Americans say large banks and financial institutions have benefited the most from post-recession government policies.
Republicans Sour on Ben Bernanke
As Ben Bernanke prepares to step down as chairman of the Federal Reserve in January, the public views him somewhat more favorably (38%) than unfavorably (31%), with 32% unable to offer a rating.
Five years after country’s fiscal crisis, wide partisan gap exists over financial regulation
The share of Republicans who say government regulation of financial institutions has gone too far is 38 percentage points higher than Democrats.
Doubts About U.S. Economy Persist
Five years after the stock market crash, a 63%-majority says that the U.S. economic system is no more secure today than it was before the 2008 crisis, while just 33% say that it is more secure. And most say household incomes and the job situation have improved little since the recession.
Sharp divisions in GOP base on raising the minimum wage
Proposals to raise the minimum wage face stiff opposition in Congress from Republicans, particularly in the House. But within the GOP base, there are sharp educational and income differences over the issue.
